In Your Office
You were my comfort,
the warm arms I trusted, and
willingly, I followed you
into your trap.
You held me close and
breathed down my neck.
Your hands travelled places
forbidden to go.
I ignored the red flags
that went off in my mind.
I craved your attention
so, I sat there still.
It was not until later
as I walked on home
that I felt the truth
of what you had done.



A Rose Without Thorns
Beauty is no defence against wandering hands.
The Rose knows she is beautiful
and so, she blooms for all to see.
But beauty unfortunately cannot protect
against hands that would seek to enter the garden 
and take her for their own, 
petal by petal.
Perhaps that is why the Rose grows thorns.
To protect herself from any who would dare
to pull her away from the garden
and hide her from the sun.
It is the only way she can 
Bloom. 

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Jordan Lide is a senior at the University of Wollongong studying Management and Theatre. She freelances as a writer and has had works published with the Tertangala, Hyde Magazine, and the blog Less Talk, More Writing. Additionally, Jordan runs a travel blog Little Fish, Bigger Pond, capturing her international adventures. When not writing Jordan enjoys going for walks on the